merrow



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J. IVLMERROW &J. T; COLLIN-S.v

OVBRSBAMING SEWING MACHINE.

No. 497,587. Patentedilvra s; 1893.

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M. MBRROW & J; T. COLLINS;

'OVERSBAMING'SEWINGMAGHINE. Y

- :No. 497,5 7. x Patgnted May16,j1893.

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PATENT O FICE.

JOSEPH M. MERROW, OF MERROW, AND JOHN T. COLLINS, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT; SAID COLLINS ASSIGNOR TO SAID MERROW.

OVERSEAMING SEWINGI-MACHIINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 497,587, dated May 16, 1893.

Application filed January 19, 1392. Renewed February 24,1393. Serial No. 463,633. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOSEPH MQMERROW, of Merrow, in the county of Tolland, and JOHN T. COLLINS, of Norwich, inthe county of New London, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crocheting or Overseaming Machines; and we do of the fabric toform a 'bindingor ornamental finish; and said improvements are more especially adapted for use in connection with machines of this kind wherein provision is made for interlooping or incorporating one or more threads'into the finish in addition to that which penetrates the fabric.

Examples illustrating the style of machine and general character of the stitchingor finish referred to are to be found in Patents Nos. 394,783, 413,761, 414,233, 414,234, and 422,142.

One of the principal objects of the present improvement is to facilitate and regulate the 7 formation of the loops at the edge of the fabric scale.

and to control the thread or threads during the process of forming the stitch.

In the accompanying drawings: Figurel is a front elevation of a crocheting machine, a portion of the casing being broken away to disclose the interior. Fig.2 is an end view of the cam cylinders and crochet-hook carrier, a portion of the casing being in section. Fig. 3 is an end View showing the principal operating parts'of the machine on an enlarged Fig. 4 is a similar view, the covering plate for the thread detaining finger and its cam being removed. Fig. 5 is a detail illustrating the operation of the detaining finger and its relation to the finger-plate and presserfoot.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

As illustrating one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention it has been shown applied to the well known Merrow crochet machine (described at length in patents, Nos, 414,234 and 414,718, dated respectively November 5, 1889, and. November 12, 1889,) of which A, is the frame; B, the main shaft; C, the hand-wheel; D, the eccentric; E, the connecting rod; F, the needle lever; G, the needle bar; H, the presser-foot rod; I, the feed cam; J, the feed dog and carrier; K, the needle; L, L, the upper and lower crochethook operating cams; M, the oscillatory-reciprocating crochet-hook carrier; N, the sliding support for the carrier; O, the crochet-hook; P, the presser foot; and Q, the finger-plate. The needle is reciprocated vertically to carry the needle-thread back and forth through the fabric, while the crochet-hook is reciprocated horizontally on opposite sides of the fabric, to

grasp the needle thread alternately above and below the fabric, drawing loops around the finger plate, and interlocking said loops along the edge of the fabric in a well knownmanner. The same form of machine'is adapted for making plain over edge stitching and scalloped or shell work according to the adjustment of the feed; thus for single stitch or plain work the feed movement is arranged to take place between successive reciprocations of the needle; and for shell or scalloped work, the feed is effected only after a series of reciprooations ofthe needle and looper or crochet-hook.

In the prcsent'example the machine is arranged for plain stitching, and the introduction of an additional or supplemental thread after the manner illustrated in patents, Nos. 394,783, 414,235 and 422,142, hereinbefore referred to, for which purpose it is provided with a thread carrier R attached to a rockshaft r pivotally supported or journaled in the head and carrying an arm r riding upon a cam R on the upper cam-shaft L and held in engagement therewith by a spring T The thread carrier R is radially adjustable with reference to its shaft 4' and the arm 0" is laterally adj nstable upon said shaft so that the position of said carrier R with relation to the crochet-hook and needle can readily be varied. The spring r which serves to retract the thread carrier and hold the arm 'r in contact with its cam, surrounds the rod or shaft 7' and one end of said spring engages the arm 1' or a collar on the shaft, while the opposite end is attached to a collar 7' free to turn on the shaft, but normally held from rotation by a clutch device--such as the pin or projection r engaging the wall of a recess 9' in the post or support for the shaft-whereby the collar can be turned to increase the tension of the spring by pressing it back against the spring to open the clutch, and when the proper tension has been given, the collar will be forced into clutched position and then held by the endwise pressure of the spring.

The thread carrier R operates substantially as does the corresponding element in Patent No. 414,718, that is to say, it is swung or vibrated across the path of the crochet hook so asto carry the supplemental thread in position to be grasped by said crochet-hook as the latter reciprocates above the presser-foot.

The machine thus far described represents one of the ordinary plain crochet machines with improved appliances for adapting it to produce the double thread stitch, and it is in connection with such a machine that the present invention is more especially applicable.

In forming the double thread stitchwhether for plain or scallop work-the crochet-hook operates to grasp the needle thread above the presser foot and draw a loop over the edge of the fabric and finger-plate as the needle descends through the fabric. The next reciprocation of the crochet hook is performed beneath the fabric and results in the drawing of a second loop of the needle thread, so that two loops, one from above and the other from beneath the fabric are carried upon the crochet-hook as it rises and is again reciprocated above the fabric. During this third reciprocation the crochet-hook again engages the needle-thread and also the supplemental thread, (the latter being presented in position to be engaged by the hook by the motion of the thread carrier R) and in its rearward movement draws the needle thread and supplemental thread through the two preceding loops. The next reciprocation of the crochet-hook beneath the fabric or fingerplate results in the drawing of another loop of the needle thread from beneath, and the succeeding reciprocation of the crochet-hook on the upper side results in drawing loops of the needle-thread and the supplemental thread through the loops then on the crochethook, i. a, the two needle thread loops, one above and the other below the fabric and the preceding loop of the supplemental thread, all of which operations are repeated, the needle thread loop above the fabric or finger plate together with a loop of the supplemental thread being each time drawn through the two loops of needle thread and one loop of supplemental thread.

It will be observed that the needle thread alone penetrates the fabric and forms the over-edge stitching while the supplemental thread is enchained or interlooped upon itself and with the loops of the needle thread clear of the fabric, the stitches of the supplemental thread being in efiiect formed in and uniting the stitches of the needle thread. As the crochet-hook advances above the presser-foot to engage the main or needle thread and the supplemental thread, the latter is extended and held in position to be grasped by the crochet-hook between the eye in the thread carrier R and the point of attachment in the last preceding stitch of the main thread. From various causes the point at which the supplemental thread is attached to the fabric or to the stitches of the main thread is liable to become shifted so that said thread will not be properly presented to the crochet-hook, thereby causing the machine to skip one or more stitches or producing variations in the lengths of the loopsor stitches formed from the supplemental thread. Thus as the orcchet-hook is advanced above the presser foot the loops carried by it have a tendency to slip forward on the finger-plate, and the supplemental thread being supported by a vibrating carrier will be swung too far to one side of the crochet-hook. It is for the purpose of overcoming these and other defects in the practical operation, as well as to afford means for more accuratelymeasuring and adjusting the lengthsof theloops formed from the supplemental thread, that a thread holder or controller in the form of a finger S has been introduced and arranged to engage and hold the supplemental thread at a point between carrier R and the line of stitches, said finger serving to regulate the length of the loop and afford a fixed point be tween which and the carrier R the supplemental thread will be held extended in position to be engaged by the crochet-hook.

In the form of embodiment illustrated herein the finger S is provided with a downwardly projecting point 8, a lateral projection or fluke s and a stem 8 located to one side of the point 3 so that by the rotationfof the stem in its carrier the position of the point can be changed or adjusted. The finger carrier S is pivotally attached at s to the frame so that it can be swung vertically upon said pivot and motion is communicated to the carrier through a cam s on the upper cam shaft L acting in opposition to a spring 8 interposed between the carrier and its inclosing case 3 The arrangement shown for giving motion to the finger carrier has been found satisfactory, although other equivalent means, such as a grooved cam for effecting motion in both directions, may be substituted for the peripheral cam and spring.

The finger S is reciprocated toward and from the presser foot or other equivalent support and it operates to engage the supplemental thread and between the last stitch and the carrier R and to hold said thread while the crochet hook draws the loops of main and supplemental threads from theupper side of the finger through the loops held on said hook, so that a loop of the supplemental thread is formed or produced around said finger from the bight of thread connecting succeeding stitches, which extra loop is absorbed in the interlooped portion of the chain when the latter is drawn out or extended. I

In the example illustrated, which is but one of numerous obvious forms in which the pres ent features of invention are susceptible of embodiment, when the crochet-hook is on its way outward and upward around the edge of the fabric or finger plate, thesupplemen tal thread is carried back of the point or downwardly projecting part 3 of finger S by the motion of the thread carrier R as shown in Fig. 3. As the crotchet-hook is advanced the finger is depressed, and, engaging the supplemental thread, holds it down and back from the point of the crochet-hook, and, in,- cidentally, operates'to restrain or hold back the loops which'would otherwise be carried forward somewhat by the crochet-hook in its forward motion. The thread carrier R now advances to carry the supplemental thread into the throat of the crochet-hook which latter upon its return grasps both the main and supplemental threads drawing the latter from be-- tween the thread carrier and finger S as shown in Fig. 5, wherein'the supplemental thread which has been carried back over finger S, is shown broken away for a short distance to better display the loop and finger. After the stitch has been completed the loop held by the finger is released as the latter rises and is elevated above the supplemental thread preparatory to the formation of the next stitch.

The presser foot is provided with an opening p to accommodate the point 3 of the finger, and a similar opening may be formed in the finger plate for the same purpose, but these openings may be omitted if desired. By adjusting the finger upward the loop is made smaller and vice versa; similar resultslnay be effected by turning or twisting the finger in its carrier, owing to its curved or bent form, and, within limits, by timing the cam earlier or later.

The fluke 8 serves to prevent the loop from running too far back of the point 3, and, as the finger rises, to shed the supplemental thread around and beneath the point so that upon the descentit will be caught. The fluke may be made integral with the finger or separate and secured thereto.

As is obvious, in the absence of a fabric the stitches may be formed around the finger plate, (illustrated in Fig. 5) as, for example, in making a fabric, such as is described in Patent No. 422,142.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new is- 1. In a machine, of the character described and in combination with its thread carrying needle, reciprocating crochet hook, fingerplate and supplement'althread carrier movable laterally of the needle, a finger engaging the supplemental thread at a point interme diate the thread carrier and finger plate; substantially' as described.

2. In a machine, such as described,'and in combination with the stitch forming devices including .the needle, looper, finger around which the stitches are formed, and a supplemental thread carrier, a reciprocating thread detaining finger engaging the supplemental thread and provided with a lateral extension or fluke operating to divert the supplemental thread; substantially as described. Y

3. In a crocheting or overseamingmac'hine of the character described, the combination with the thread carrier R of the rock-shaft, the arm engaging the actuating cam, the spring, thefixed clutch section. and the adjustable clutch collar mounted loosely on the rock shaft, and attached-to one end of the spring, by which it is held in engagement with the fixed clutch section; substantially as described. 7

4. In a machine, such as described, and in combination with its stitch forming mechan ism including a main thread carrier and a looper and a supplemental thread carrier, a reciprocating finger for engaging the supplemental thread, and a presser foot provided with a recess for the point of said finger to enter and thus prevent the escape of the thread; substantially as described.

5. In amachine, such as described, the combination of a reciprocating needle, a crochethook reciprocating in planes transverse to that'of the needle, a finger or plate around which the loops are formedfrom the thread carried by the needle, a supplemental thread carrier movable laterally of the needle for presenting the supplemental thread .to th crochet-hook, and a loop controlling finger overlapping the supplemental thread; substantially as described; 6. In a machine, such as described, and in combination with the stitch forming mechanism comprising a needle and cooperating looper, a reciprocating loop controlling'fi n'ger cooperating with a plate provided with a recess for the reception of the point of the finger; substantially as described.

7. In a machine, such as described, and in combination with the stitch forming mechanism comprisinga needle and a looper-for manipulating the main thread ,to form a series of stitches, a supplemental-thread carrier for presenting said supplemental thread to the stitch forming devices at intervals, and a loop controllingfinger embracing the supplemental thread'at a point intermediate that at which the stitch forming devicesengage said threadand the previously formed stitches to hold a loop of the supplemental thread between the points of attachment to the main thread; substantially as described.

8. In a crocheting or overseaming machine, such as described, and in combination with its stitch forming mechanism including the needle, crochet-hook, finger plate, feeding devices andpresser foot, a supplemental thread carrier reciprocating laterally and in advance 10 of the crochet-hook and a loop controlling finger engaging the supplemental thread at a point in rear of the crochet-hook when the latter is in position to engage said supplemental thread; substantially as described. JOSEPH M. MERROW. JOHN T. COLLINS.

W'it-nesses:

GEO. G. PRESTON, CHAS. F. THAYER. 

